Health & Pregnancy

Pregnancy Essentials

Get Ready -- Baby's on the Way!

Whether it's your first child or a new sibling for other children, there's so much to think about and get done. We help you sort through the to-do list.

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"Your life becomes completely disorganized and many fond
prenatal dreams are not realized because of physical exhaustion from the work
of labor and delivery, as well as the stress of trying to meet all of the new
baby's needs and be 'perfect' parents," says Gottesman. "Babies change
the very fabric of everyday life."

Babies are, however, worth all of the hard work at adjustment,
Gottesman adds, and she offers these tips to smooth the way:

Read together about baby care and baby parenting from reliable sources such
as Penelope Leach, Barry Brazelton, ZERO TO THREE, and Johnson and Johnson
Pediatric Institute.

Attend prenatal classes together. Attend more than just the classes for
coping with labor and delivery. Look for classes on early newborn care,
breastfeeding, infant and child CPR, home safety during infancy, and anything
on parenting in the first year of life.

Be sure you know how to use your car seat, stroller, and other equipment.
Have the car seat installation checked by a knowledgeable safety-seat
expert.

Talk about those things in your daily life that you cannot change and think
about how to preserve them with the least stress. If it's pressed dress shirts,
hoard coupons for the dry cleaners. A clean house? Put coupons for
home-cleaning services on your baby shower list or accept vouchers from friends
to come and help with household chores. In fact, some of the best shower gifts
cost little in terms of money (babysitting for a specified number of hours,
help with grocery shopping, babysitting while mom takes a nap during the day,
volunteering to collect older children from school or take them to sports
activities). Like home-cooked meals? Experiment ahead with frozen items to see
what you like and stockpile these items, enough to carry you through at least
two weeks by just adding prepackaged salads or fresh fruits.

Commit to making your new family the priority for at least the first two
weeks at home, longer if possible. Learn about and care for your baby together.
Encourage each other in your new roles.

Make time to go out as a couple to do something you both love. Take the
baby to a reliable sitter and cuddle together at home. Talk to each other about
what is hard, what is joyful, and what is satisfying about your new lives. Make
"parent play time" a priority. You cannot give to your new baby if you
are running on empty yourselves.